Parents Beyond Breakup calls for extension of peer-support and lived-experience
model for priority populations through targeted funding.
Parents Beyond Breakup acknowledges the Federal Government’s investment in suicide
prevention, however, cites Budget 2022 as a missed opportunity to target funding to those
most at risk: men, LGBTIQ+ and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
PBB CEO Gillian Hunt said “We cannot lose focus on those most vulnerable to suicide. Now
is not the time to put the brakes on when increased funding is sorely needed.”
Parents Beyond Breakup echoes Suicide Prevention Australia’s call for further investment
for those most at-risk and supports the establishment of a Suicide Prevention Act to ensure
a whole-of-government approach.
“The past few years have brought extreme and increasing challenges to communities. We
see this first-hand with the people we support. At the peak of the lockdowns, we
experienced a 30% increase in callers to our Helpline. We continue to experience our
highest call volumes on record and climbing, with no signs of slowing down,” she
commented.
Suicide has a devastating and immeasurable impact on individuals, families, and
communities across Australia.
The Parents Beyond Breakup model offers Peer Supported, Lived Experience, suicide
prevention services through support groups (in-person and online) and a National Suicide
Helpline which responds earlier to distress to prevent suicide. Primarily to priority
population groups including men.
“This is an evidence-based proven model that saves lives and helps families and
communities. A focus on priority populations, in our case men, supported by lived
experience is where budget expenditure will realise the most value,” said Gillian.
ABOUT PBB
As a national suicide prevention charity operating for over 20 years, Parents Beyond
Breakup is focused solely on supporting separating parents experiencing trauma through
family breakdown, a factor closely linked to suicide.
Every year over 3,000 Australians die by suicide with issues in spousal relationships the third
most cited common risk factor for males compared to seventh for females. Consistent with
previous years, males are around three times more likely to die by suicide than females.
SUPPORT
Those experiencing distress during family separation and in need of support:
HELPLINE 1300 853 437
Mon-Sat, 08:30am – 5pm AEST or
WEBSITE:
www.parentsbeyondbreakup.com
MEDIA CONTACT
For further media enquiries, background and to arrange an interview with Parents Beyond
Breakup CEO, contact:
Shannon Kliendienst
Head of Communications and Marketing
0429 613 962
Email: Shannon.kliendienst@parentsbeyondbreakup.com